Japanese Honda Inspire VS US Honda Accord V6

What's the difference between them?
They look exactly the same to me...
http://www.honda.co.jp/auto-lineup/inspire/

I think the Inspire is supposed to be a full-sized sedan comapred to the mid-sized Accord. Not too sure.

They look the same because essentially, they are the same. Previously, the Japanese home market Inspire was based on what were our Acura's, most recently the Acura TL, but no more. There are likely a good number of mechanical differnces between the current U.S. market Accord and it's cousin the Japanese (Asian) market Inspire. However, I am not a Honda enthusiast so I could not tell you what these are.

Also, I would use the term full-size loosely when referring to any Honda/Acura. In Japan they may regard our new Accord as a "full size" car because they utilize the same smaller "Accord" the European market does and likely consider that a mid-sized car. (their Accord is the Acura TSX here) Perceptions are different across the pond.

Even the relatively large and now gone Acura RL (and the Toyota Avalon to be fair) is kinda' small IMHO to really be considered true "full size" cars. Even though the EPA does agree with both auto-makers on their full size designations regarding these cars.

Well, just found out that the Inspire's V6 engine can turn off 3 of the 6 cylinders when cruising to improve fuel economy. Does the US Accord do the same?

What's the difference between them?
They look exactly the same to me...
http://www.honda.co.jp/auto-lineup/inspire/


I came across this trying to find out something about the Inspire that I currently own. It's impossible trying to find anything in English for it. Anyway from looking at it it's built completley on the accord chasis but the main difference is that the engine is straight front to rear mounted and has five cylinders instead of the US standard four or six. I may have to learn how to read japanese to figure out anything else about this car.

What's the difference between them?



The steering wheel is on differnt sides.
And thats about it.

There will be small differnces in Trim and Badging, but they are esentialy the same car, same engine, same chassis etc.

North America is the only country to get only one Accord, the V6.
The rest of the world gets the large V6, and the smaller Accord Euro.
The US gets the Accord Euro badged as the TSX.
Ironicly the US badging is more accurate, as the TSX is really a 4 door Integra or RSX.
With the latest generation of cars (started in 2000 with the 7th gen Civic) Honda has reduced and greatly simplified its model range, as well as making virtualy all models globaly avliable, and globaly indentical.

The Fit/Logo Civic, Integra/RSX and Accord V6/Euro/TSX are all pretty much the same car where ever you are in the world, they are all ultra low emissions vechiles, and all meet much higher safety standards then needed to sell in any world market.
For Honda it reduces production costs by reducing the amount of tooling needed, and means any factory can make a car for any market, for example if the Japanese productin of Civics got behind, then cars could be imported from the British factory (or the American ones, which has happened in the past).
It also reduces the complexity in supplying parts, and makes training technical staff much simpler.
And most importantly it provides a single unified global image, it means you can know the car you are driving in America will be the same as the car you see in France when on Holiday, making it instantly recognisable.


Unforuantly it has not always been this simple in the past. When Honda first entered the mass market in 1973 there was global similarity between models, this continued up untill about 1988, when the Local Japanese market become very competitive demanding lots of low volume special production models, the US market started demanding wider larger cars, and Europe started wanting smaller more economical ones.

The result was a massive range of differnt models and a list of differnt names, that literaly fills a small size book with trim levels and options.
The Oddyssey for example in the mid 90s was produced in two differnt sizes, a small narrow body version for the Japanese Market, and wide body version for the US market. Towards the end of the 90s this continues, with the wide body version produced in the US becoming the world version, where it was sold along side the narrow body version in Japan.
The Accord was even worse, towards the end of the 90s 3 differnt body sizes and shapes were avliable, a small European model, and mid sized Japanese model, and Large sized US model which was also sold in Australia and New Zealand. In the Japan the samll European model was badged as the Torrino and the large US model was sold with the V6 only (the US, Aus and NZ also got a 4cyl).
The humble Civic was produced in such a variety of numbers and trim levels with engines ranging from 1300cc to 1600cc and single carb to DOHC VTEC, from 80hp to 180hp that I dont think anyone could possible name them all, and given the amount of unique market spefic models produced in Europe, North America and Japan I dont think even Honda knows.
The range topping legand was also badged as the Acura in the US, but the Honda Legand in the rest of the wold, and North American only models were produced towards the end of the 90s.

And of course the Honda Inspire, the whole reason this thread was started was a most interesting car.
Also badged as the Ascot depending on trim and engine it started life as a FWD 5cyl of either 2.0l or 2.5l.
It was only ever sold new in Japan and in limited numbers in North America, however before its release in 92 it was tipped to be the replacement for the Accord. Forunatly they were not the same car, and shared very little in common.
The engine was orginaly thought to be a developmend of the half the F1 V10 engine, a total magazine fabrication, the engine used was actualy an Audi design produced under license, hence it was mounted inline, driving the front wheels through a transaxle Audi and Volvo stlye.
(also the same as the early V6 Legand).
When Honda made a generation change to its model line up in 95 the Inspire/Ascot was dropped completly, but the names were not.
Both appeared on "upmarket" versions of the 4dr Civic with fake Chrome trim in Japan, and the Ascot name was I think used on a re-styled 4dr Integra base, but with an upright grill.


It would appear that the Current "Inspire" However is simply Honda making use of the names luxury status in Japan to brand the V6 Accord as something differnt from the Accord Euro.

North America is the only country to get only one Accord, the V6.


:sly: I think you made two mistakes in the same sentence. North America isn't a country and the Accord comes in multiple trim lines - including engine size. http://www.kbb.com/kb/ki.dll/kw.kc.ntl?kbb;;&49770;sed&1791;;Honda&Honda;2005%20Accord&&&&nyrnc

I know when I bought my 02 Accord (though I got the EX V6) there were a several engine configurations.













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Well, just found out that the Inspire's V6 engine can turn off 3 of the 6 cylinders when cruising to improve fuel economy. Does the US Accord do the same?
I know that the US Odyssey can do that, so if the accord doesn't already have that it's just a matter of time.

:sly: I think you made two mistakes

Only one gramatical error.

Prehaps Ill rephrase it.

North America is the only region to get one Sized Accord, the large body version sold to the rest of the world as the Accord V6. (North America also gets the 2.4l i-VTEC engine from the TSX/Accord Euro in the larger bodied Accord).
The smaller Accord Euro (based on the Integra) is sold in North America as the Acura TSX which is a more accurate badging reflecting the cars close reltaionship with the Acura RSX (Integra).